Ustaad Bhagat Singh won’t serve as a platform for political commentary, clarified director Harish Shankar amid speculations that it will infuse political dialogues to cater to a section of Pawan Kalyan’s base. To address some legitimate concerns raised by fans, the director released a definitive video statement clarifying the film’s creative direction and the lead star’s (Pawan Kalyan) personal philosophy.
Harish Shankar stated that Pawan Kalyan maintains a strict professional boundary between his film career and his political life. According to the director, the OG and Hari Hara Veera Mallu actor believes that cinema should remain a source of entertainment rather than a tool for personal attacks or motivated provocation. “On the very first day, Pawan Kalyan garu told me to keep politics separate from storytelling,” the filmmaker stated. This commitment to professional integrity is evidenced by Kalyan’s recent projects, such as Vakeel Saab and They Call Him OG, where he collaborated with actors like Prakash Raj despite their differing ideological stances. The director further clarified that while Ustaad Bhagat Singh is designed to glorify the lead man’s screen presence and personal attitude, it will not do so at the expense of others. The film aims to cater to a diverse fanbase that belongs to various political affiliations. “Our film won’t belittle anybody. There won’t be any satires whatsoever,” Harish Shankar confirmed, almost ruling out partisan messaging.
Harish Shankar has previously directed Gabbar Singh in 2012. At that time, he was a direct witness to Pawan Kalyan’s refusal to endorse certain products he believed were not good for the health of kids. “In 2012, well ahead of the Pan-Indian trend, his market value was so high that the endorsement fee on offer matched the gold standard set by Shah Rukh Khan,” the director recently said at an event.
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